Praise God for the election of Rev Garry Dronfield as the new President of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress for the next three years. Please pray for wisdom, strength and protection for him as he leads Congress at this important time. ...

Around 150 people gathered in Geelong, Victoria for the UAICC - Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress triennial National Conference from 13-18 January.
Congratulations to the incoming National Executive and officers including new National President Rev. Garry Dronfield.

Today is our day of prayer and fasting. Let's fast and pray inJesus' mighty name for repentance and revival in our time, beginning in our own lives, family, church (including the Uniting Church - local and national), workplace, marketplace, neighbourhood, town, city, region, country and the world.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Sometimes we listen to the news of the increase of nuclear power in the hands of seemingly unstable world leaders, or even think of the church and we get discouraged and disheartened.

In our epistle teaching from 1 Thessalonians today, Paul tells us to encourage one another with the following words. Our precious Lord Jesus Christ is going to return. It will not be in a quiet way. There will be a loud shout, a voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God. All those who have died who are in the Lord Jesus Christ will rise first. And then any who are still alive will be caught up with him in the clouds.

Now comes our promise. Then we will be with the Lord forever!

This is not a popular teaching in some circles even within thechurch, for not all will be raised, not all will be with him forever. It is only those who are “in Christ”, who have received by faith all that Christ has done upon the cross.

Let us not be disheartened by any momentary problems. Let us put it into perspective.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back and when he returns we will be with him forever!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive us when we get overwhelmed with the chaos of the world and forget that Jesus Christ your son is returning again. Help us to not only remember this wonderful truth but to share it with others that they too may be encouraged. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen

Today is our day of prayer and fasting. Let's fast and pray in Jesus' mighty name for repentance and revival beginning in our own life, family, church, marketplace, workplace, neighbourhood, village, town, city, region, country and the world.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen

Psalms 107:33-37 (NRSV) He turns rivers into a desert,springs of water into thirsty ground,34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.35 He turns a desert into pools of water,a parched land into springs of water.36 And there he lets the hungry live,and they establish a town to live in;37 they sow fields, and plant vineyards,and get a fruitful yield. ...